Thursday, June 28, 2012

To celebrate D23: The Official Disney Fan Club reaching 100,000 "likes" on
Facebook we're presenting a special membership offer that we like to call "23
on 23 for 23!"

Disney fans can save 23% on a new D23
Membership for 23 hours beginning tonight (June 28) at midnight Pacific
Standard Time until 11pm Pacific Standard Time on Friday, June
29.

All fans need to do is visit http://DisneyStore.com/D23, put a new
D23 Membership (Gold or Silver) in their cart and at check out enter
the promo code D23FB100k and the 23% will be automatically
deducted!

Please note, this is only good for new D23 Memberships and
cannot be applied to renewals.

Thursday, June 7, 2012

THAT
BEGAN OCT. 1, 1982The
Official Disney Fan Club Salutes Three Decades of Epcot on Sept. 30, 2012,

as the 21st Century
Begins Again With the Most Comprehensive Retrospective Ever Mounted

BURBANK, Calif. – June 7, 2012 – Hailed
as the most groundbreaking theme park of its time, Epcot marks its 30th anniversary
on Oct. 1, 2012, and D23: The Official Disney Fan Club is preparing a unique
celebration of one of Disney’s crowning achievements.

On Sunday, Sept. 30, 2012, D23’s Epcot 30th Anniversary
Celebration will whisk D23 Members back
to a time touted as when “the 21st century begins”—those early Epcot years when
guests first marveled at “Astuter Computers,” “Smellitzers,” and the novelty of
“riding on sunshine,” and were awed by a massive geodesic sphere called Spaceship Earth.

This journey to yesteryear, the future,
and around the world takes place one day only: on Sunday, Sept.
30, 2012, from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. inside Epcot (Park
admission is required and not included in the event ticket price). Each D23
Member may bring up to three guests.

“When Epcot opened
in 1982 it was a monumental achievement and its opening was an unforgettable
moment for Disney fans everywhere,” says Steven Clark, head of D23. “We know
our members have a deep passion for this park, and we’re producing a memorable
experience that lets our members relive some of their favorite Epcot shows and attractions
of the past while experiencing the incredible Epcot legacy that continues
today.”

D23’s Epcot 30th Anniversary Celebration will offer the most detailed look at the
design, development, and evolution of Epcot ever presented by The Walt Disney
Company and will include rare and
never-before-seen artwork; film and video footage and photos; along with a
number of pioneers of Epcot, including such Disney Imagineers, Legends, and
Epcot luminaries as Marty Sklar (exclusive pre-taped presentation), Tony
Baxter, Ron Schneider, Charlie Ridgway, Ron Logan, Bill Sullivan, Bob Garner,
Jason Surrell, Jason Grandt, Alex Wright, Duncan Dickson, and Steve Taylor.

Tickets will be available
for purchase on June 21 at 10
a.m. on D23.com.There are two levels of D23 Member participation:

World Passport
general admission is $65 per guest and includes:

-Access to all presentations

-A commemorative gift

-Access to exclusive D23 merchandise

World Key level admission is $185 per guest and
includes:

-All features of the World Passport
admission

-Reserved seating for all presentations

-A special dessert reception at 8 p.m.
inside an exclusive Future World lounge

-Reception will also include screenings
of rare film footage of Epcot’s early days

Presentations
Include:

Hooray
for the 21st Century –
Disney Legend and former Walt Disney Imagineering Principal Creative Executive
Marty Sklar joins D23 guests via a virtual presentation, where we see and hear
what it was like to work with Walt Disney on his original vision for an
Experiemental Prototype Community of Tomorrow. Along the way, learn about
Marty’s favorite memories working on the EPCOT Center project with a team of
passionate Imagineers.

Presentations
Include:

Hooray
for the 21st Century –
Disney Legend and former Walt Disney Imagineering Principal Creative Executive
Marty Sklar joins D23 guests via a virtual presentation, where we see and hear
what it was like to work with Walt Disney on his original vision for an Experimental
Prototype Community of Tomorrow. Along the way, learn about Marty’s favorite
memories working on the EPCOT Center project with a team of passionate
Imagineers.

The
Music of EPCOT Center –
Some of Epcot’s most passionate fans agree that the park’s soundtrack has
created one of its most lasting legacies that continue to help “makin’
memories” around the world. Join Disney historians and songwriters as we
explore the incredible world of Epcot music, celebrating the talents of such
Epcot songwriters and composers as Bob Moline, Richard M. and Robert B.
Sherman, George Wilkins, Buddy Baker, X. Atencio, Peter Stougaard, Russell
Brower, Edo Guidotti and others who have left a permanent musical mark on the
park’s creative legacy. Along the way, hear stories about the recording
sessions, learn about some fascinating alternate versions of some of your
favorite melodies, and sing along to your favorite Epcot tunes!

“We Can Do It!” – Disney Legends and EPCOT Center
creators review the immense challenge that loomed ahead of them when bringing
Epcot to reality in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Guests will hear stories of
trips to foreign countries to secure participants in the World Showcase
concept, what life was like inside the largest private construction project in
the world, and how they readied its highly anticipated opening day.

“We’ve Just Begun to Dream” – Join Disney Legend Ron Logan and
other key Disney entertainment veterans as they reminisce about the official
EPCOT Center opening festivities that remain among the most elaborate Disney
has ever staged. This presentation will include rare footage from the grand
openings of various Future World and World Showcase pavilions, which were held
throughout October 1982.

“Makin’ Memories: Epcot on Film” – Join former Disney Imagineer Bob
Garner and Disney author and historian Tim O’Day as they cast a “Magic Eye” on
the marvelous world of Epcot on film. Bob was closely involved in the creation
of film documentation and production at Epcot, includingspecial video elements of Future World and World Showcase
pavilions and such promotional films as EPCOT
Center: The Opening Celebration.

“Looking Back at Tomorrow” – Few Epcot visitors, even its most
avid fans, realize The Land pavilion was almost called “Harvest Tomorrow” or
that Figment was slated to co-host an “Images & Imagination” pavilion with “Professor
Marvel.” With recently discovered materials from the Walt Disney Archives, join
Disney archivists as they examine how the “dreamers and doers” developed
favorite Epcot attractions of the past including Horizons, Journey into Imagination, Kitchen Kabaret, World of Motion, the Astuter Computer Revue, and the
original Universe of Energy.

“The EPCOT Center That Never Was” – Using rare concept artwork, guests
will glimpse what it was like to design Epcot with Walt Disney Imagineering Senior
Vice President Tony Baxter, designer and producer for several beloved Epcot
pavilions, and explore early versions of Epcot attractions that never made it
off the drawing board.

“Imagineering Epcot: An ExtraPerceptive
Close-up
Of
Things – Fans of wall-to-wall carpeting and
leapfrog fountains unite! Disney Imagineers Jason Surrell, Jason Grandt, and
Alex Wright return with a humorous exploration of the details that make Epcot
so unique. From miniature gardens to massive buildings (and every international
food and beverage offering in between), they’ll show what makes Future World
and World Showcase like no place else on earth.

More details about
the program and tickets for D23’s EPCOT 30th ANNIVERSARY
CELEBRATION can be found online at www.D23.com.

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

D23: The Official
Disney Fan Club is very excited about its upcoming DESTINATION D: 75 YEARS OF
DISNEY ANIMATED FEATURES, and this morning to be able to reveal details
about exactly what's included in this amazing two-day event.

There are more
than a dozen presentations, entertainment offerings and panels offered during
the two days of DESTINATION D, which are described below.

EVENT INFORMATION

August
11 and 12, 2012 – Grand Ballroom, Disneyland Hotel

COST $225 per person
(Diamond Level, $1,000 per person, is sold out)

Destination
D: 75 Years of Disney Animated Features is an
unprecedented celebration of the art, storytelling, music, voices, imagination,
and innovation of Disney’s benchmark films.

From Walt Disney’s groundbreaking Snow
White and the Seven Dwarfs to the upcoming Wreck-It Ralph, guests
will experience a two-day journey through the art of Disney feature animation –
filled with fun, laughter and rarely or never-before-seen artwork, photos and
film clips of beloved Disney characters and stories – all the while surrounded
by some of the world’s leading animation legends, artists and authorities.

While more announcements are forthcoming, the
detail about Destination D below is current as of June 4, 2012.

This promises to be an extraordinary
celebration … with additional participants and presentations to be announced in
the weeks ahead:

DAY ONE – SATURDAY, AUGUST 11

Walt Disney and the First Golden Age of Disney AnimationWalt and his original team of animators and artists
invented an entirely new genre of filmmaking storytelling. Together they
created unparalleled bodies of work that continue to delight audiences around
the world. Join our panelists who participated first-hand (or witnessed) the
remarkable creation of Walt Disney’s feature animated films:

Joe
Hale—43-year Disney veteran who contributed his
artistic talents to such films as Peter
Pan, Lady and the Tramp, Sleeping Beauty, One Hundred and One Dalmatians, and
Mary Poppins.

Burny
Mattinson—Disney Legend and 50-year veteran of Disney
animation who contributed his artistic talents to such “Golden Age” favorites
as Sleeping Beauty, One Hundred and One
Dalmatians, and The Jungle Book.

Roy E. Disney and the Second Golden Age of Disney
Animation Roundtable discussion of Roy E. Disney’s
influence on the “Second Golden Age of Disney Animation”—from The Black Cauldron and The Great Mouse Detective through the
modern-day classics of the 1990s. Join our panelists who participated
first-hand (or witnessed) Roy E. Disney’s remarkable stewardship of Disney’s contemporary
animation renaissance:

Dave
Bossert—Author of an upcoming book on Roy E. Disney,
and creative director and head
of special projects at Walt Disney Animation Studios; artistic coordinator and
visual effects supervisor on Fantasia/2000
and associate producer of the short “Destino” among many other accomplishments.

Don
Hahn—Noted author, Disney animation historian,
and producer of some of Disney’s most successful animated films of the second
golden age, including Beauty and the
Beast, The Lion King, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, and The Emperor’s New Groove.

The Greatest Disney Animation You Never Saw Enjoy a “Behind-The-Magic” peek at the art of
Disney feature animation. Academy Award®-nominated film producer and author Don Hahn and Creative Director for Walt
Disney Animation Studios David Bossert
present rarely seen (or never before seen at all) Disney artwork and animation
from more than 75 years of Disney animated features.

Animating The
Disney Parks

Disney Parks owe a
great deal of their creative development and design to the roots of Disney animation.
Join current and former Disney Imagineers as they discuss how legendary Disney
Imagineers, including Marc Davis, Mary Blair, Claude Coates, Herb Ryman, John
Hench, and many others, successfully transferred their skills and talents from
the world of Disney feature animation to “animating the Disney Parks.” Join our
panelists who personally worked with many of these Disney animation and Imagineering
greats:

Eddie
Sotto—Noted experiential designer, mixed-media producer, conceptualist, and
former Disney Imagineer, whose projects included the design of Main Street,
U.S.A. at Disneyland Paris, early work on Indiana Jones™ Adventure at
Disneyland,plus Mission: SPACE at Epcot and Pooh’s
Hunny Hunt at Tokyo Disneyland.

An Evening Concert: Dick Van Dyke &
The Vantastix

The fun continues into the night with an
unforgettable evening of harmony provided by Dick Van Dyke & The Vantastix.
The popular vocal quartet is comprised of legendary television, Broadway and
film star Dick Van Dyke and three
renowned west coast musicians—Mike
Mendyke, Bryan
Chadima, and
Eric Bradley. Songs from Van Dyke’s varied entertainment
career, in addition to many well-known Disney hits and timeless pop standards,
will be performed by Van Dyke and The Vantastix in a show rich in humor, pure
entertainment, and sing-along favorites. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience
you won’t want to miss!

Exclusive Screening: Walt & El Grupo—The Director’s Cut

Presented
exclusively for D23 Members and their guests is the definitive director’s cut
(not available on DVD) of the acclaimed 2009 film documentary Walt and El Grupo. Hosted by Director Ted Thomas and Producer Kuniko Okubo, the film chronicles the
amazing 10-week trip that Walt Disney and his hand-picked group of artists and
filmmaking talent (later known as “El Grupo”) took to South America in 1941 at
the behest of the U.S. Government.

DAY TWO – SUNDAY,
AUGUST 12

Wacky
and Wild Disney Animation Go on a wacky and irreverent ride through some of the most
psychedelic and visually stunning animation ever put on film in this fun and
humorous retrospective of Disney feature animation. Along the way you’ll learn
of the contributions of such “characters” as Disney Legend Ward Kimball,
renowned artist Salvador Dali, and many others. Your hosts through this
animation “Wonderland”:

Jerry
Beck—Well-known animation historian,with 10 books
and numerous articles to his credit. Jerry is an animation producer, and
industry consultant to Warner Bros., and has been an executive with Nickelodeon
and Disney and is also a popular blogger on the subject of animation.

Eric
Goldberg—A veteran director, designer and animator, his Disney
credits includes being the supervising animator of Genie in Aladdin, co-director of Pocahontas,
animator of Phil in Hercules, followed by Fantasia/2000, which he
directed, wrote, and animated two critically acclaimed sequences: “Carnival of
the Animals” and “Rhapsody in Blue.” His animation work can also be seen in the
Tokyo Disney Seas attraction Magic Lamp
Theatre and the recently unveiled Gran
Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros at the Mexico Pavilion at Epcot.

Tinker Bell: The
Evolution of a Disney Character

Have
you ever wondered how a character becomes a “Disney” character? As we take you
on a

fascinating
trip through the decades in a presentation filled with never-before-seen art,

photos, and film
clips, you’ll see how Tinker Bell developed into one of Disney’s most iconic
characters. Your tour guides include:

Mindy
Johnson—Author of the upcoming book Tinker
Bell: An Evolution—(new for Fall 2013 from Disney Editions).

The
Walt Disney Studios is often credited with perfecting “personality animation,”
creating

from
paper and pencil characters that seemingly live and breathe. In this

entertaining
and educational presentation you’ll discover the secrets behind the creation of

some
of Disney’s most beloved animated stars, plus you’ll get the chance to design
your own

Disney
animated character under the guidance of a master Disney animator.

Your
instructor: Andreas Deja—30-year Disney
animation veteran, whose
impressive body of work includes serving as supervising animator on characters
in several classic Disney animated features, including Gurgi in The Black Cauldron, Gaston in Beauty
and the Beast, Jafar in Aladdin,
Scar in The Lion King, Mickey Mouse in Fantasia/2000, Lilo in Lilo
& Stitch, Mama Odie in The
Princess and the Frog, and Tigger in Winnie
the Pooh. He’s also a noted Disney animation historian and authority on the
work of legendary Disney animator Milt Kahl.

Hearing Voices: A
Salute to Disney Character Voice Artists

Meet
the artists behind the voices. We put a spotlight on the many men and women who
have

supplied
some of the most familiar voices ever to grace movies screens. This unique

reunion
of Disney character voice talent highlights some of the great voices of the
past

as
well. Our roster of Disney character voice talent stars include (to date—more
to be

new
filmmaking genre—the Disney animated feature—and put in motion the creation of
an

unparalleled
library of films that remain unrivaled in their artistic and storytelling
achievements. Join us as we salute this groundbreaking film with a rare west
coast appearance by 93-years-young Marge
Champion, the live-action reference model for the character of Snow White.
Also joining the presentation will be Gabriella
Calicchio, CEO of The Walt Disney Family Museum, to provide insights on the
museum’s upcoming Snow White exhibition and an exciting new D23 opportunity.

An Evening With Disney Legend and Oscar®-Winner Alan
Menken

Please “Be Our Guest” as we conclude our
celebration with a rare musical concert by Disney Legend Alan Menken. With eight Academy Awards®, Alan Menken has
received more Oscars than any living person. He has written songs and scores
for some of the world’s most beloved films: Tangled (Oscar nominee), Enchanted (three Oscar nominations) The Little Mermaid (two Oscar wins), Beauty and the Beast (two Oscar wins), Aladdin (two Oscar wins), Pocahontas (two Oscar wins), Hercules (Oscar
nominee), The Hunchback of Notre
Dame (Oscar® nominee), Little
Shop of Horrors (Oscar nominee), Home
on the Range, and Newsies.

Menken is currently
the first songwriter in 13 years to have three new shows running concurrently
on Broadway (Sister Act, Newsies, and Leap of Faith). His Broadway
successes include The Little
Mermaid (Tony Award® nominee), Beauty and the Beast, Little Shop of Horrors, and Sister Act (Tony Award
nominee). His other stage productions include King David, Newsies, God Bless You Mr. Rosewater, The Hunchback of
Notre Dame, and Aladdin.

Exclusive Screening: Waking Sleeping Beauty – The Director’s
Cut

Presented
exclusively for D23 Members and their guests is the definitive director’s cut
(not available on DVD) of the acclaimed 2010 film documentary Waking Sleeping Beauty. With screeninghosted by director Don Hahn, the film chronicles how by the mid-1980s the fabled animation studios of
Walt Disney had fallen on hard times. Waking
Sleeping Beauty is the true story of how Disney regained its magic with a
staggering output of hits—The Little
Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, The Lion King, and more—over a
10-year period.

D23′s Destination D series has become
one of the fan club’s most popular member events. Past “destinations” have
celebrated 55 years of Disneyland and 40 years of Walt Disney World Resort. Now
it’s time to celebrate the diamond anniversary of one of the most universally
beloved and unique film genres—the world of Disney animated features.

There is a special online auction which has just opened benefitting the GHTA (Gift and
Home Trade Association). Enesco has donated a trio of Walt Disney Classics
Collection sculptures (in one auction lot) depicting Walt Disney.

Two of these
sculptures are rare Artist Proofs and the third is one of the Disney
Archives/D23 pieces, all will be signed by Disney Master Artist Dave Pacheco.
The bidding will close on June 17th at 10:00 PM
C.D.T.

Collect all three rare portrayals of Walt Disney himself released in the Walt Disney Classics Collection (WDCC) line of fine porcelain sculptures.

The Walt Disney Company launched WDCC in 1992 to bring our favorite Disney characters and emotions to three-dimensional life in a collection of fine art sculptures applying the same principles and techniques used in classic Disney animation – artistry, storytelling and creativity.

Artist Proof #25 / Porcelain

In honor of Walt Disney’s 100th Birthday the Walt Disney Classics Collection proudly introduced this unique sculpture in 2001 saluting both the man and the Mouse who started it all.

Based on a classic 1950’s photo in which Walt fondly posed with an antique Mickey doll – one of the earliest and most popular pieces of memorabilia – the sculpture captures the essence of the man whose imagination enchanted the world and whose spunky little character made it smile.

This beautifully-sculpted porcelain tribute features chair legs of bronze and pewter and chair rails of brass, while Mickey’s tail is made of wire. The back of the chair reads “Walt Disney Studios,” and the sculpture features a special backstamp commemorating Walt Disney’s 100th birthday. This item is an Artist Proof Version, hand numbered 25/25 on the Certificate of Authenticity and the sculpture backstamp indicating it is Number 25 of 25 and is signed by Disney Master Artist David Pacheco.

Artist Proofs are not intended for commerce and are created for the sculptors, painters, and animators involved in the project as well as for archival purposes. The regular edition version was Production Year Limited to 2001 and exclusively available to Walt Disney Collectors Society Members.

Created by the Walt Disney Classics Collection to honor Disneyland® Park’s Golden Anniversary in 2005, this exquisite sculpture depicts Walt Disney proudly explaining his plans for Disneyland® to Mickey Mouse. Look closely and you’ll see the 1954 rendering of Disneyland® painted by Peter Ellenshaw recreated on the podium.

This commemorative piece features a 50th Anniversary Logo on the backstamp of the sculpture and it is plussed with pewter desk legs, brass wire tail for Mickey, and a porcelain inset plaque on a custom hard wood base. The sculpture is an Artist Proof Version, hand-numbered 4/5 on the Certificate of Authenticity and the sculpture backstamp indicating it is Number 4 of 5 and is signed by Disney Master Artist David Pacheco.

Artist Proofs are not intended for commerce and are created for the sculptors, painters, and animators involved in the project as well as for archival purposes. The regular edition version was a Numbered Limited Edition 1,955 and it sold out in 2005.

From: Walt Disney Classics Collection, Distributed by Enesco, LLC.Year Introduced: 2005Sculpted by: Kent MeltonHeight: 9”Porcelain Before the Mouse there was the Rabbit – Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, that is. Walt Disney’s first cartoon star, Oswald, paved the way for a certain mouse named Mickey with animated antics that had 1920s movie audiences in stitches.

Plussed with pewter ears on Oswald, this historic sculpture, introduced in 2009 by the Walt Disney Classics Collection, portrays the young filmmaker with his happy-go-lucky hare, who embodies the sassy style of early animation. Presented on a custom hardwood base with porcelain inset plaque, this sculpture is part of the 400 pieces within the sold out General Limited Edition of 1,500 that features a Walt Disney Archives Collection /D23 Backstamp and is signed by Disney Master Artist David Pacheco.

Winning bidder can make payment in form of credit card or check submitted directly to GHTA. Certificates or items will then be mailed to winning bidders at the close of Auction once payment has been received.